Rolando McClain says he is not naive, but taking reduced role well (updated)

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain, the team’s first-round pick in 2010, went from playing 95 percent of the snaps to 31 percent (17 of 55) last week as he was replaced by rookie Miles Burris in the Raiders’ nickel defense that they use on passing downs.

Coaches said McClain played well and took the demotion well, and we asked him about it Thursday.

“You understand the situation, you understand the transition — whatever that may be — and you’re not naive to the fact of what’s going on,” he said. “But at the same time you’re still a team player, and if coach thinks that’s the best thing for the defense, then by all means do it. I’m all with it. I can focus more on the base (defense) now.”

While the Raiders are not actively trying to trade McClain, one has to wonder about the future of the eighth overall pick in 2010. He has no forced fumbles or fumble recoveries (he does have 5 ½ sacks and an interception) in 35 career games and his salary is scheduled to jump from $970,000 to $4 million in 2013.

Plus there’s some legal questions that he’s still lugging around. McClain is appealing a May conviction in Decatur, Ala., of third-degree assault, menacing, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in the city limits. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail. He will have a jury trial after the season, and yhe NFL has not yet determined if he will be suspended.

McClain is focusing on the positive, and said the coaches told him he made 11 impact plays in his 17 snaps.

“I just didn’t play in nickel, they played a lot more nickel,” he said. “I feel good about it. … It is what it is. If they feel like they want Miles to go in, that’s perfectly fine with me.”

McClain made a nice tackle at the 1-yard line to prevent the Falcons’ Jason Snelling from scoring late in the third quarter. But he didn’t take much credit for it.

“Everybody was ready to make a play,” he said. “We didn’t want them to score and we figured they were going to try and run it in.

McClain said he was told about the change going into the bye week.

Outside linebacker Philip Wheeler took over the green-dot helmet — equipped with a headset for communication with the sideline — from McClain.